“Generational Change Concept Wrong’ Former Foreign Minister McIntosh

As young people strive to get representation in the political arena and other sectors in Liberia, former Foreign Minister of Liberia, now presidential hopeful, Dr. Togar G. McIntosh, says the concept of generational change is wrong.

Speaking on a local radio talkshow in Monrovia, Dr. McIntosh said if the issue of generational change is all about waking up one morning removing all older people from position and replacing them with young people, then it is not a good idea.He added that in order for any government or country to improve it needs the ideas of the older folks or elders to prepare the young people that are coming onboard.The ideology of generational change has taken center stage in recent times with a large segment of the youth population propagating for leadership through replacement of the older generation.Dr. McIntosh however insists the concept is wrong because the older generation cannot be blanketed or brushed out considering the fact that there are older people with vast experience who cannot be left out.He stressed that some countries around the world would not let go of their older generation because they are needed to advance and develop the minds of the youth.According to the former Foreign Minister, there will be time where everything in the world would be progressive and it would need the older generation to intervene. He added that it is important to do what he calls “sitting on the old mat to plait the new ones.”“Evolution is the reason for surviving. So, people have to move on a path but to just leave people who are moving out of the picture and throw them away, and bring in the younger people would be detrimental,” he said.Meanwhile, conmenting on his intention to contest the 2017 presidential election on the Unity Party ticket, Dr. McIntosh said even though the party’s current standard bearer President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and some other UP members have pledged support to Vice president Joseph Boakai, as far as he is concerned, the institution has to go back to it rules of going to convention, and any other decision would be taken from there.He revealed that the Unity Party has already begun discussion and anyone who wants the standard bearer post will have to go through the political process at the upcoming convention. Dr. McIntosh pointed out that whoever wins the party’s internal process will be supported by the party.

Nat briSenator Taylor in Southeast on Women’s Role in GovernanceIn furtherance of her quest to promote women participation in politics and governance of the country, Senator Jewel Taylor is in southeastern Liberia at the invitation of the women of Maryland County, at a special program to be held on Thursday on the Tubman University campus in Harper city.The occasion is part of activities commemorating the climax of series of events in observance of women’s week in the county.In March of every year, women around the globe organize activities in honor of the struggle women around the world face at the hands of their male counterparts in the socio-economic and political spheres.The Bong County Senator will take a similar message to the women of Sinoe and Rivercess counties.Senator Taylor, who is chairperson of the Liberia Women Legislative Caucus, is expected to shortly submit the Affirmative Action Act of 2016 to the National Legislature for passage into law.The Act seeks to create 21 additional constituencies, exclusively for women, the disabled and youth.According to the draft Act, one constituency will be created in each of the 15 counties for women, while the remaining six will be three each for the disabled and youth, with a clause that one seat in each of the three is set aside for a female.

Already, under the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led government, women have begun taking center stage with the appointment of several female Paramount Chiefs, Commissioners, Ministers and the election of several women to the National Legislature, compared to past administrations.